Convertible inflation control for underwater diving vests

ABSTRACT

An inflation control for a safety vest used by underwater divers. The control is convertible for oral or automatic operation. An oral inflation housing has a valve which may be manually operated to inflate the safety vest or to withdraw air from it. An automatic inflation housing may be removably connected for manually controlled inflation of the vest from a supply tank. A quick disconnect coupling permits rapid connection and disconnection of the supply tank hose with one hand and without the loss of any pressure.

United States Patent [1 1 Schuler Aug. 12, 1975 CONVERTIBLE INFLATIONCONTROL FOR UNDERWATER DIVING vEsTs [75] Inventor: Manfred Schuler,Costa Mesa, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Pittman Products, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif.

22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 505,789

52 U.S.Cl. ..9/313 51 lnt.Cl. ..B63C 9/24 [58] Field of Search ..9/313327,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Greenwood 9/313 X 3,727,2504/1973 Koehn et al. 9/313 Primary ExarhirierTrygve M. Blix AssistantExaminerSherman D. Basinger Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Comstock5 7] ABSTRACT An inflation control for a safety vest used by underwaterdivers. The control is convertible for oral or automatic operation, Anoral inflation housing has a valve which may be manually operated toinflate the safety vest or to withdraw air from it. An automaticinflation housing may be removably connected for manually controlledinflation of the vest from a supply tank. A quick disconnect couplingpermits rapid connection and disconnection of the supply tank hose withone hand and without the loss of any pressure.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CONVERTIBLE INFLATION CONTROL FORUNDERWATER DIVING VESTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to an inflation/exhaust control forsafety vests used by underwater scuba divers.

2. Description of the Prior Art The invention relates generally to aninflation control of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,727,250 and othersimilar products which are now on the market.

In many of the existing devices, there is constant pressurization of thesystem, including the interior of the control housing, which may resultin the escape of air during connect and disconnect operation and whichmakes such disconnection difficult.

Existing devices are also not capable of being readily disassembled andcleared in case an internal build-up of foreign matter should occur inthe air passages.

The devices which are now on the market are not capable of beingconverted for use either as an oral inflator alone or as both an oraland an automatic inflator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an inflation controlwhich is an improvement over existing devices and which providesadvantages and benefits not found in prior devices.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a device of the typedescribed in which there is no escape of air (or pressure) during theconnect/disconnect operations or if the pressure connection shouldaccidentally become disengaged.

It is particularly an object of the invention to provide an inflationcontrol which is capable of being manufactured in two separateconnectable pieces. One piece by itself comprises an oral inflator andit may be used alone for oral inflation of the safety vest. The otherpiece adds the automatic inflation function and it may be quickly andeasily attached to and combined with the first piece to convert it intoa combination oral and automatic inflation control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is simple and more efficient in its construction andoperation and which is substantially foolproof in use. The device of thepresent invention is adapted to be manufactured and sold at a relativelylow price for widespread sale and use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which isso constructed and arranged that all operations can be performed withonly one hand. This is extremely important for safety and underwaterdiving and for speed and efficient operation in emergency situations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a quick disconnectstructure and method of operation thereof for such devices which is animprovement over those now in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a structure andmethod of inflation which comprises an improvement over those now inuse.

The invention also comprises such other objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherentlypossessed by the invention.

While there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodimentof the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptibleof modification and change without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of thecomplete inflation control, with the safety vest and tank shown on areduced scale;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the complete inflationcontrol;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the oral inflator used alone,partially broken away to show the cover assembly in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment which hasbeen selected to illustrate the invention comprises an oral inflatorhousing 10, which may conveniently be formed of molded plastic or othersuitable material. The housing 10 has a vest outlet 1l,.to which a hose11a may be connected leading to a safety vest 11b. A mouthpiece outlet12 may carry a conventional mouthpiece 12a, or it may be used withoutthe addition of such a mouthpiece.

A push-button control 15 is mounted on the opposite side of the housing10 from the vest outlet 11 and in alignment therewith. The control 15 isslidably mounted within a retainer 16 which is threadedly mounted in thehousing 10. A coil spring 17 extends between a fixed interior wall 19 ofthe housing 10 and an inner portion of the control 15. The spring 17normally urges the control 15 outwardly with respect to the housing 10.

A poppet 18 has one end thereof threaded into the control 15. The poppet18 extends concentrically through the coil spring 17 and through thewall 19 transversely across the inner portion of the mouthpiece outlet12. The, opposite end of the poppet 18 is attached to a valve closuremember 20, which is mounted for reciprocal movement within the interiorportion of the vest outletl-l'. The valve closure member 20 has anannular resilient portion 21 which engages a valve seat 22 surroundingthe connection between the vest outlet 11 and the mouthpiece outlet 12.

When the oral inflation housing 10 is used alone, a screw 23 which isdisposed at the inner end of the mouthpiece outlet 12 engages and holdsin place a cover 24 which Closes off the side of the housing 10 remotefrom the mouthpiece outlet 12.

The operation of this portion of the inflation control is simple. Thecoil spring 17 normally holds the resilient portion 21 of the'valveclosure member 20 in sealing engagement with the valve seat 22 toprevent any flow of air between the mouthpiece outlet 12 and the vestoutlet 11.

Manual pressure on the control 15 causes movement of the poppet 18,which displaces the resilient portion 21 of the valve closure member 20from the valve seat 22. The mouthpiece outlet 12 may then be placed inthe mouth and air blown into the mouthpiece outlet 12, from which itflows through the valve seat 22 and through the vest outlet 11 into thesafety vest.

If the safety vest is already inflated, air will flow from the safetyvest through the vest outlet 11 and valve seat 22 and out through themouthpiece outlet 12. This air may be breathed by a diver in anemergency situation or it may be discharged into the water or into theatmosphere.

The device described comprises a complete oral vest inflation controlwhich may be used by itself. If an automatic vest inflation control isdesired, a second housing may be attached by merely removing the cover24 and using the same screw 23 to connect the second housing to thefirst housing 10.

The second housing, which comprises an automatic inflation housing 30,may also be conveniently formed of molded plastic. When the secondhousing 30 is used in connection with the first housing 10, the cover 24is removed or omitted. The screw 23 is then connected to a projection 31formed on the interior of the housing 30 in order to attach the housingsl and 30 in sealing engagement to each other.

The housing 30 has an inlet or inflate push button 32 which is held by aretainer 33. A stem 34 extends inwardly from the push button 33 into theinterior of the housing 30. The stem 34 has an O-ring 35 extendingaround its outer portion and another O-ring 36 extending around itsinner portion. A relieved area 37 extends around the periphery of thestem 34 between the 0- rings 35 and 36.

A transverse opening 38 extends transversely through the stem 34adjacent to the inner portion of the relieved area 37 and connectingtherewith. A longitudinal opening 39 extends longitudinally into thestem 34 from the inner end thereof along the longitudinal axis of thestem 34. The longitudinal opening 39 intersects and connects with themidportion of the transverse opening 38.

A sleeve 40 is slidably mounted around the outer end of the stem 34. Acoil spring 41 has its outer end bearing against the inside of the pushbutton 32. The spring 41 concentrically surrounds the sleeve 40, withits inner end engaging an annular enlargement 43 on the inner end of thestem 34.

The spring 41 serves a dual purpose. It exerts outward pressure againstthe push buttom 32 in order to maintain it in a normally outwardposition. It also exerts inward pressure on the sleeve 40 through theenlargement 43 to urge the stem 34 inwardly to a closed position whenthe pressure connector is not attached to the housing 30. This secondfunction will be described in detail hereinafter in this specification.

The housing 30 is provided on its interior with an integral shoulder 44which acts as a stop member to limit inward movement of the sleeve 40 byengaging the enlargement 43. Adjacent to the shoulder 44 on the oppositeside thereof is a bushing 45 having an annular opening in which anO-ring 46 is mounted directly adjacent to the shoulder 44.

The housing 30 is provided with a cylindrical opening 47 which extendsfrom the bushing 45 to the exterior of the housing 30. The opening 47 isdimensioned to slidably receive a connector 50 which is mounted on theend of a hose 51 which extends to a source of high pressure high supplysuch as a tank 51a. The end 52 of the connector 50 is smoothly taperedto a reduced diameter which fits within the bushing 45, with the O-ring46 engaging the periphery of the end 52.

Any flow of air from the hose 51 through the connector 50 is normallyprevented by a valve closure assembly which is mounted within a chamber60 formed in the connector 50. This valve closure assembly includes avalve stem 53 having a collar 54. A concentric coil spring 49 normallyurges the collar 54 to compress an O-ring 55 against a radially inwardlydirected shoulder 56 at the end of the chamber 60. The O-ring 55 forms afour-sided seal against the collar 54, the inner wall of the connector50, the shoulder 56 and the periphery of the stem 53'.

The stem 53 has a projection 57 which extends into a cylindrical chamber58 which adjoins and is of somewhat smaller diameter than the chamber60. The projection 57 is provided with a slot 59.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the connector 50 connected to the secondhousing 30, with the inflate push button 32 in its normal or closedposition. When the connector 50 is secured to the housing 30, the innerend of the stem 32 slidably enters the chamber 58 and the O-ring 36makes a sealing engagement with the periphery of the chamber 58. TheO-ring 35 at all times makes a sliding sealing engagement with the innerperiphery of the sleeve 40. The slotted inner end of the sleeve 40 abutsagainst the end 52 of the connector 50.

The inflate button 32 is adapted to be depressed against the pressure ofthe spring 41. When the button 32 is depressed, the sleeve 40 remainsstationary because its inner end is in abutting engagement with the end52 of the connector 50.

As the button 32 is depressed, the stem 34 is moved inwardly within thechamber 58 of the connector 50. Since the inner end of the stem 34 is inabutting engagement with the end of the projection 57, movement of thestem 34 causes movement of the valve stem 53 of the connector 50. Suchmovement of the valve stem 53 causes movement of the collar 54 away fromthe O- ring 55, relieving the pressure of the spring 49 which causes theO-ring 55 to seal off the end of the chamber 60. When pressure on theO-ring 55 is relieved, air under high pressure from the tank 51a flowsout of the chamber 60 past the O-ring 55 into the adjoining chamber 58.

From the chamber 58, air under presure flows through the slot 59 in theprojection 57 of stem 53 into the longitudinal opening 39 of the stem34. From the longitudinal opening 39, air flows through the transverseopening 38 into the relieved area 37 surrounding the midportion of thestem 34.

From the relieved area 37, air under pressure flows through openings 42in the inner end of sleeve 40 and then through an opening which extendsthrough the wall of the housing 30 into a chamber 66 disposed betweenthe housing 10 and 30. Air flows from the chamber 66 through an opening67 in the wall of the first housing 10 into the vest outlet 11 outwardlyfrom the valve seat 22. The valve closure member 20 has a plurality ofradially spaced integral portions which engage the inner wall of thevest outlet 11 to maintain the valve closure member 20 in alignmentduring its movement. These portions have spaces therebetween whichpermit air flow to pass from the chamber 66 into the vest outlet ll.From the vest outlet 11, the high pressure air flows through the hose11a to the safety vest 11b to cause inflation of the vest 11b.

A quick disconnect means is provided on the second housing 30 to providefor quick and simple connection and disconnection of the connector 50 toand from the housing 30. Such quick disconnect means comprises a releasepush button 70 which is mounted on the side of the housing30transversely from the inflate push button 32. The release push button 70is mounted within a retainer 71 which is threaded into the housing 30. Apair of coil springs 72 extend between the interior of tendstransversely across the opening 47 and is slidably mounted within a slot77 formed in the housing 30.

The slide member 76 is provided with a circular opening 78 which isslightly larger in diameter than the main portion of the connector 50and substantially equal in diameter to the opening 47. The'opening 78is,

however, normally held somewhat out of alignment with the opening 47,its normal position being shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The inner ends of the stem 34 protrude through the opening 78. Theopening 78 is offset or out of alignment with the opening 47, so thatits edge forms a semicircular arc encircling but spaced from the stem34.

When the connector 50 is inserted into the opening 47, the outer wall ofthe end 52 of the connector 50 extends into the space between the stem34 and the adjacent edge of the opening 78. As insertion of theconnector 50 is continued, the smoothly tapered periphery of the end 52exerts lateral pressure on the edge of the opening 78, causing the slidemember 76 to be moved transversely against the pressure of the springs72.

This transverse movement of the slide member 76 continues until theslide member 76 is in alignment with a recess 79 which extends aroundthe entire periphery of the connector between the end 52 and the mainpart of the connector 50. When this occurs, no more lateral pressure isexerted on the edge of the opening 78 and the springs 72 cause the slidemember 76 and push button 70 to move outwardly, bringing the edge of theopening 78 into the recess 79.

The connector 50 is thereby automatically and securely locked intoconnection with the housing 30. The connector 50 cannot be disconnectedor removed from the housing 30 without pressing the release push button70 inwardly. When the button 70 is pressed, the edge of the opening 78is moved outwardly beyond the periphery of the recess 79. The connector50 is then free to be withdrawn from the opening 47 and is in fact urgedoutwardly by pressure from the spring.

The parts are dimensioned so that when the slide member 76 engages therecess 79, the end 52 of connector 50 makes sealing engagement with theO-ring 46, the end 52 abuts against the inner end of sleeve 40 and theend of the stem 34 abuts against the end of the valve stem 53.

When the connector 50 is disconnected from the housing 30, the sleeve 40is moved inwardly by pressure from the spring 41 acting against theenlargement 43. The sleeve 40 moves inwardly so that its outer peripherymakes sealing engagement with the O-ring 46, thereby preventing any flowof air out of the housing 30.

It should be noted that when the connector 50 is connected to thehousing 30, the O-ring 55 prevents any flow of air under pressure intothe housing 30 unless and until the inflate push button 32 is pressed.As soon as the push button 32 is released, air flow into the housing 30is stopped by the pressure of spring 49 moving collar 54 and O-ring 55back into sealing position. The only pressure which is present withinthe interior of the housing 30 at this time is the extremely lowpressure of 6, v the safety vest 115, if it. is inflated There is nohigh pressure within the interior of the'housing '30.

When the connector 50 is'disconnected from the housing 30, there isaccordingly no high pressure which resists its disconnection andthereis'no loss of air or pressure occurring during either the connector disconnect operation.

I claim:

1. An inflation control for underwater diving vests comprising a firstoral inflation housing having a mouthpiece outlet and a vest outlet, avalve controlling the flow of air between said outlets, a push buttoncontrol mounted on said first housing for opening said valve, said firsthousing being usable by itself for oral inflation of said vest and foremergency breathing of air from saidvest, a plate removably mounted onsaid first housing, said plateclosing off passage means in said firsthousing extending from a portion of said vest outlet beyond said valve,a second housing adapted to be connected to said-.first housing upon theremoval of said plate, said second housing converting said control forinflation of said vest from a source of air pressure, said secondhousing having passage means connecting with the passage means in saidfirst housing for the flow of air under pressure through both of saidhousings from the source of air under pressure to said vest outletbeyond'said valve.

2. The structure described in claim 1, and a fastening member removablyconnecting said plateto said first housing, said fastening member alsobeing usable upon the removal of said plate to connect said secondhousing to said first housing.

3. An inflation control for underwater diving vests comprising a housinghaving a mouthpiece outlet and a vest outlet, a valve controlling theflow of air between said outlets, a push button control mounted on saidhousing for opening said valve for emergency breathing of air from saidvest, said housing having an opening for removably receiving a connectorfor supplying air under pressure, passage means extending within saidhousing from said opening to a portion of said vest outlet beyond saidvalve, valve means in said connector normally preventing the flow of airunder pressure when said connector is disposed within said opening, saidconnector being insertable into and removable from said opening withoutopening said valve means and without any loss of air under pressure,sealing means disposed adjacent to the inner end of said opening, theinner end of said connector being adapted to make sealing engagementtherewith when said connector is fully inserted into said opening, andmeans forming a sealing engagement with said sealing means when saidconnector is removed from said opening to prevent air flow outwardlythrough said opening.

4. The structure described in claim 3, and an inflation push buttoncontrol mounted on said housing, a stern movable by said control, theinner end of said stem being adapted to engage and open the valveclosure member of said connector when said control is depressed.

5. The structure described in claim 4, and a sleeve surrounding saidstem, a coil spring surrounding said sleeve, said coil spring urgingsaid control outwardly and said sleeve inwardly, said spring upon theremoval of said connector from said opening being adapted to move saidsleeve inwardly into sealing engagement with said sealing means.

3,898,705 it I, I V1 6. The structure described in claim 5, and a quickdisconnect means for removably connecting said connector to saidhousing, said disconnect means providing a slide member movable by arelease push button mounted on said second housing, said slide memberbeing mounted for sliding movement within said housing transverselyacross said connector receiving opening, said slide member having acircular opening therein, release spring means normally holding the saidrelease push button outwardly to hold said slide member opening offsetwith respect to said connector receiving opening, said connector havinga narrow end adapted upon the insertion of said connector into saidopening to engage the opening in said slide member and move said slidemember transversely against the urging of said release spring means topermit the end of said connector to move through said opening in saidslide member and into engagement with said sealing means.

7. The structure described in claim 6, and means automatically engagablebetween said connector and slide member upon the insertion of saidconnector into said opening to hold said connector against removal fromsaid opening.

8. The structure described in claim 7, said means comprising a recessformed in the side of said connector, said recess being adapted toremovably receive a portion of said slide member adjacent to one edge ofsaid slide member opening, said release spring means 8 being adapted tomove said slide member into said recess. i

.9, The structure described in claim 8, said slide member being movablefrom said recess upon depression of said release push button control,said coil spring engaging said sleeve being adapted upon the release ofsaid connector to exert pressure on said sleeve and connector to urgesaid connector out of said opening.

10. The structure described in claim 3, said control comprising twoseparate housings, the first of said housings comprising an oralinflation housingcapable of being used by itself independently of thesecond housing for oral inflation of said vest and for emergencybreathing of air from said vest, the second of said housings comprisingan automatic inflation housing removably connected to said first housingfor inflation of said vest from a source of air under pressure. I

11. The structure described in claim 10, and a plate removably mountedon said first housing when said first housing is used by itself, saidplate closing off the passage mean s extending from said connectorreceiving opening to saidwvest outlet.

12. The structure described in claim 1 l, and afastening memberremovably connecting said plate to said first housing, said fasteningmember also being usable upon theremoval of said plateito connectingsaid second-housing to saidfirst housing.

1. An inflation control for underwater diving vests comprising a firstoral inflation housing having a mouthpiece outlet and a vest outlet, avalve controlling the flow of air between said outlets, a push buttoncontrol mounted on said first housing for opening said valve, said firsthousing being usable by itself for oral inflation of said vest and foremergency breathing of air from said vest, a plate removably mounted onsaid first housing, said plate closing off passage means in said firsthousing extending from a portion of said vest outlet beyond said valve,a second housing adapted to be connected to said first housing upon theremoval of said plate, said second housing converting said control forinflation of said vest from a source of air pressure, said secondhousing having passage means connecting with the passage means in saidfirst housing for the flow of air under pressure through both of saidhousings from the source of air under pressure to said vest outletbeyond said valve.
 2. The structure described in claim 1, and afastening member removably connecting said plate to said first housing,said fastening member also being usable upon the removal of said plateto connect said second housing to said first housing.
 3. An inflationcontrol for underwater diving vests comprising a housing having amouthpiece outlet and a vest outlet, a valve controlling the flow of airbetween said outlets, a push button control mounted on said housing foropening said valve for emergency breathing of air from said vest, saidhousing having an opening for removably receiving a connector forsupplying air under pressure, passage means extending within saidhousing from said opening to a portion of said vest outlet beyond saidvalve, valve means in said connector normally preventing the flow of airunder pressure when said connector is disposed within said opening, saidconnector being insertable into and removable from said opening withoutopening said valve mEans and without any loss of air under pressure,sealing means disposed adjacent to the inner end of said opening, theinner end of said connector being adapted to make sealing engagementtherewith when said connector is fully inserted into said opening, andmeans forming a sealing engagement with said sealing means when saidconnector is removed from said opening to prevent air flow outwardlythrough said opening.
 4. The structure described in claim 3, and aninflation push button control mounted on said housing, a stem movable bysaid control, the inner end of said stem being adapted to engage andopen the valve closure member of said connector when said control isdepressed.
 5. The structure described in claim 4, and a sleevesurrounding said stem, a coil spring surrounding said sleeve, said coilspring urging said control outwardly and said sleeve inwardly, saidspring upon the removal of said connector from said opening beingadapted to move said sleeve inwardly into sealing engagement with saidsealing means.
 6. The structure described in claim 5, and a quickdisconnect means for removably connecting said connector to saidhousing, said disconnect means providing a slide member movable by arelease push button mounted on said second housing, said slide memberbeing mounted for sliding movement within said housing transverselyacross said connector receiving opening, said slide member having acircular opening therein, release spring means normally holding the saidrelease push button outwardly to hold said slide member opening offsetwith respect to said connector receiving opening, said connector havinga narrow end adapted upon the insertion of said connector into saidopening to engage the opening in said slide member and move said slidemember transversely against the urging of said release spring means topermit the end of said connector to move through said opening in saidslide member and into engagement with said sealing means.
 7. Thestructure described in claim 6, and means automatically engagablebetween said connector and slide member upon the insertion of saidconnector into said opening to hold said connector against removal fromsaid opening.
 8. The structure described in claim 7, said meanscomprising a recess formed in the side of said connector, said recessbeing adapted to removably receive a portion of said slide memberadjacent to one edge of said slide member opening, said release springmeans being adapted to move said slide member into said recess.
 9. Thestructure described in claim 8, said slide member being movable fromsaid recess upon depression of said release push button control, saidcoil spring engaging said sleeve being adapted upon the release of saidconnector to exert pressure on said sleeve and connector to urge saidconnector out of said opening.
 10. The structure described in claim 3,said control comprising two separate housings, the first of saidhousings comprising an oral inflation housing capable of being used byitself independently of the second housing for oral inflation of saidvest and for emergency breathing of air from said vest, the second ofsaid housings comprising an automatic inflation housing removablyconnected to said first housing for inflation of said vest from a sourceof air under pressure.
 11. The structure described in claim 10, and aplate removably mounted on said first housing when said first housing isused by itself, said plate closing off the passage means extending fromsaid connector receiving opening to said vest outlet.
 12. The structuredescribed in claim 11, and a fastening member removably connecting saidplate to said first housing, said fastening member also being usableupon the removal of said plate to connecting said second housing to saidfirst housing.